Joey Logano debuts (sort of) with Hall of Fame Racing (2008)
Join me throughout this year as I take a look at when some of the sport’s biggest stars drove some unusual cars! (Presented in no particular order).
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| Joey's first-ever Cup Series practice |
Why? With Tony Stewart leaving to start his own team in 2009, Joe Gibbs Racing needed a replacement. They turned to the best NASCAR prospect since…well, “sliced bread”, prepping him with a handful of races near the end of the 2008 season. After failing to qualify the JGR 02 car for Richmond, Logano moved to JGR satellite team Hall of Fame Racing, making his debut with them at New Hampshire.
How successful were they? It didn’t go well. Logano made his much-anticipated debut and came home 32nd, followed by a 39th-place finish at Kansas. He then returned to JGR’s 02 car for two more races (failing to qualify for one of them).
What was the aftermath? Talk about going in two different directions. Hall of Fame Racing essentially closed down after the 2008 season, “running” as a Yates Racing entry for 2009 before completely shutting own as a legal entity. Logano, meanwhile, has gone on to win three Cup championships, and is still racing today.
Ranking on the Strange-O-Meter? 7 confusing DLP commercials out of 10—maybe “its the mirrors”, but it still looks odd to see Logano in anything other than the 20 or 22 car.
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